SCHOOL DAYS: Hardenhuish picture special, 1980-2003

ALLOW us to take you on a trip down memory lane to relive the best days of your lives.

We’ve been trawling the archives at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham to dig out some classic class and year group pictures dating back more than 35 years.

So if you’re a former Hardenhuish student aged between your late 20s and early 50s, there’s a good chance you (or someone you know) will appear in this epic gallery.

Most of us looked ridiculous, so don’t be embarrassed.

There are some gaps in the archives, so if your year group doesn’t appear, count yourself lucky.

This feature is best viewed on a large screen. While it is possible to zoom in on your smart phones the larger group pics on a small screen will just look like a sea of pinheads with dodgy perms and curtain haircuts.

Enjoy…

EARLY 1980s: Thatcher’s reign of terror had descended over Britain. The working classes were hit hard – to such an extent that pupils had to draw their own class ‘photographs’, while appearing in low budget stage productions to make ends meet. Tough times.

LATE 1980s: Here we have the first photo-documented evidence of Mr Huxtable’s moustache, circa 1987…

Not only were class groups far smaller, but it was also virtually impossible to differentiate between pupils and staff due to the growing mullet trend.

1993: And so, into the 90s, and the introduction of the full year group shot. And colour photography. What a time to be alive. Due to the huge width of these shots, we’ve cut them into two, so if we’ve sliced off your adolescent arm, sincere apologies.

1994: The last group to wear the famous old sky blue shirt. All 43 different shades of it.

1995: I should have been in this picture but was off with some very minor illness. I toyed with photoshopping my head onto Mr Stone’s body but I’d never be able to carry off that shirt and tie combo.

1996: The photographer here has experimented by asking some pupils to face inwards, with very mixed results.

1997: The big group picture has mysteriously corrupted, so we’re forced to dig out the year 7 black and white shots of the class of ’97, complete with a petrified-looking Mr Paris and a welcome cameo from the Huxtable ‘tache.

1998: The return of the full group shot. The second and third rows are still partially persevering with the inward-turn. Chaotic.

1999: A very smart, forward-facing, bunch to end the 90s. Probably all became very well paid lawyers and doctors.

MISCELLANEOUS 90s: A few other highlights from school trips and productions. Fair play to those who went to Disney. Bit better than Wansdyke.

2000: A new decade. A new century. A new millennium. Same dodgy haircuts.

2001: Thin on the ground for images of the class of ’01, but the yearbook did throw up a few gems.

2002: Ahhhh, Sun-In. We’ve all tried it.

2003: Our final year group. You lot are nearly 30 now. Time flies when you’re having fun…